Novel self-stratifying bioelectrochemical system for municipal wastewater treatment halves nitrous oxide emissions.

Reducing carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions are prime global goals. Wastewater treatment contributes significantly, and this study developed a technology with a focus on utilisation in small-decentralised plants. Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) utilise bacteria to remove pollutants while generating power and a range of experiments were performed to investigate their suitability compared to conventional trickling filters.

The gut microbiome of wild American marten in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Carnivores are ecologically important and sensitive to habitat loss and anthropogenic disruption. Here we measured trophic level and gut bacterial composition as proxies of carnivore ecological status across the Upper Peninsula, Michigan, for wild American marten (Martes americana; hereafter marten). In contrast to studies that have focused on omnivorous and herbivorous species, we find that marten, like other carnivore species without a cecum, are dominated by Firmicutes (52.

β-Arrestin-biased proteinase-activated receptor-2 antagonist C781 limits allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation.

Background And Purpose: Asthma is a heterogenous disease strongly associated with inflammation that has many different causes and triggers. Current asthma treatments target symptoms such as bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation. Despite recent advances in biological therapies, there remains a need for new classes of therapeutic agents with novel, upstream targets.

Outcome-Locked Cholinergic Signaling Suppresses Prefrontal Encoding of Stimulus Associations.

Acetylcholine (ACh) is thought to control arousal, attention, and learning by slowly modulating cortical excitability and plasticity. Recent studies, however, discovered that cholinergic neurons emit precisely timed signals about the aversive outcome at millisecond precision. To investigate the functional relevance of such phasic cholinergic signaling, we manipulated and monitored cholinergic terminals in the mPFC while male mice associated a neutral conditioned stimulus (CS) with mildly aversive eyelid shock (US) over a short temporal gap.

Wild black bears harbor simple gut microbial communities with little difference between the jejunum and colon.

The gut microbiome (GMB), comprising the commensal microbial communities located in the gastrointestinal tract, has co-evolved in mammals to perform countless micro-ecosystem services to facilitate physiological functions. Because of the complex inter-relationship between mammals and their gut microbes, the number of studies addressing the role of the GMB on mammalian health is almost exclusively limited to human studies and model organisms. Furthermore, much of our knowledge of wildlife-GMB relationships is based on studies of colonic GMB communities derived from the feces of captive specimens, leaving our understanding of the GMB in wildlife limited.

Developing a multi-pollutant conceptual framework for the selection and targeting of interventions in water industry catchment management schemes.

In recent years water companies have started to adopt catchment management to reduce diffuse pollution in drinking water supply areas. The heterogeneity of catchments and the range of pollutants that must be removed to meet the EU Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC) limits make it difficult to prioritise areas of a catchment for intervention. Thus conceptual frameworks are required that can disaggregate the components of pollutant risk and help water companies make decisions about where to target interventions in their catchments to maximum effect.

Effects on growth and tolerance and hypoallergenicity of an amino acid-based formula with synbiotics.

Background: To evaluate the effects of an amino acid-based formula (AAF) with synbiotics on growth and tolerance in healthy infants. The hypoallergenicity of this AAF with synbiotics was evaluated in subjects with cow's milk allergy (CMA).

Methods: Study 1: 115 full-term, healthy infants randomly received an AAF with synbiotics or a commercially available AAF for 16 wk.

The concept of receptor occupancy to predict clinical efficacy: a comparison of second generation H1 antihistamines.

Second generation H1 antihistamines are considered first-line therapy for allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria, largely because of their nonsedating effects. Evaluating pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters and clinical efficacy of a drug is important, but models to predict clinical efficacy are lacking. Receptor occupancy (RO), a predictor for human pharmacodynamics and antihistamine potency that takes into account the affinity of the drug for the receptor and its free plasma concentration, may be a more accurate way to predict a drug's clinical efficacy.

Efficacy of fexofenadine versus desloratadine in suppressing histamine-induced wheal and flare.

To date, no published articles exist comparing the H1-receptor antagonist activities of fexofenadine and desloratadine using the histamine-induced skin wheal-and-flare model. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of fexofenadine versus desloratadine in suppressing histamine-induced skin flares and wheals in adults and adolescents. This was a two-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, complete-crossover study.

The impact of chiropractic manipulative therapy on chronic recurrent lateral ankle sprain syndrome in two young athletes.

Objective: To describe two cases of abrupt resolution of chronic, recurrent, inversion sprain to ankles in young recreational athletes.

Clinical Features: A 13-year-old, female, avid recreational soccer player with ankles that would spontaneously invert during various inconsistent points in the weight bearing gait cycle, sometimes with acute pain or sprain to the ankle. No intervention was attempted prior to her entry to the chiropractic office.

The health-related quality of life effects of once-daily cetirizine HCl syrup in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) can adversely impact children's physical, psychological, and social functioning and well-being, that is, their health-related quality of life (HRQL). This study assessed HRQL in children 6 to 11 years treated with cetirizine HCl syrup, while concurrently assessing symptomatic relief and safety. In an open-label, non-comparative study, 544 children from 124 centers in the United States were instructed to take cetirizine HCl syrup (10 cc of 1 mg/mL) each evening for 4 weeks.

One-year trial on safety and normal linear growth with flunisolide HFA in children with asthma.

Flunisolide hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) has efficacy equivalent to that of flunisolide chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) at one third the dose of the CFC formulation, a reduction from 250 microg/puff for flunisolide CFC to 85 microg/puff for flunisolide HFA. Flunisolide HFA delivers a smaller particle size (1.2 microm) in solution, resulting in improved lung deposition as compared with flunisolide CFC (3.

Salmeterol added to inhaled corticosteroid therapy is superior to doubling the dose of inhaled corticosteroids: a randomized clinical trial.

This randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel group clinical trial compared the efficacy and safety of adding salmeterol xinafoate to concurrent inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate therapy with doubling the dose of beclomethasone dipropionate in patients experiencing symptoms on low-dose beclomethasone. Salmeterol added to low-dose beclomethasone was superior (p < or = 0.05) to doubling the dose of beclomethasone in improving peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), and in reducing symptoms of asthma, sleep loss, nighttime awakenings, and use of albuterol.

Prevalence of sensitization to aeroallergens in California patients with respiratory allergy. Allergy Skin Test Project Team.

Background: The number of allergy skin tests required to evaluate patients with respiratory allergy has recently been challenged by the managed care community.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine which aeroallergens are prevalent in patients with respiratory allergy (allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma) in California.

Methods: Utilizing aeroallergens thought to be relevant from recent aerobiologic and botanic data, 141 allergic and 17 asymptomatic control subjects were tested for the prevalence of 103 allergens.

A comparison of effects of triamcinolone acetonide aqueous nasal spray, oral prednisone, and placebo on adrenocortical function in male patients with allergic rhinitis.

Background: One of the risks associated with the use of oral corticosteroids is suppression of adrenocortical function. Triamcinolone acetonide (TAA) aqueous nasal spray administered once daily (110 micrograms and 220 micrograms) has been shown to reduce allergic rhinitis symptoms.

Objective: This multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind study determined the effects of TAA aqueous nasal spray, placebo, and oral prednisone on adrenocortical function in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Indoor mold spore exposure: characteristics of 127 homes in southern California with endogenous mold problems.

We are constantly being exposed to molds in our environment. Indoor mold problems occur after prolonged or chronic water damage to a variety of organic materials such as unfinished wood, jutebacked carpeting, wallpaper, books, cardboard, leather, cork, paper, wallboard, and wicker baskets. Mechanisms for spore dispersal (such as air currents or foot traffic on carpets) must also be present.

Isolation of spore specific allergens from Alternaria.

Extracts of Alternaria alternata spores and mycelia were prepared. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis showed the presence of at least 40 antigens in these extracts. Analysis of seven commercial extracts by CIEP and isoelectric focusing showed many fewer components and a high degree of variability.

Correlation of IgG and IgE antibody levels to honey bee venom allergens with protection to sting challenge.

A group of 25 honey bee venom allergic patients were treated with commercial honey bee venom at a monthly maintenance dose of 100 micrograms for approximately one year. At the end of one year 24 patients were intentionally challenged and one was accidentally challenged. Three patients experienced significant systemic reactions to challenge and three experienced minor reactions.

Venom immunotherapy: comparison of "rush" vs "conventional" schedules.

Twenty-three patients aged five to 52 years with good clinical histories of severe systemic reactions to hymenoptera stings confirmed by skin tests and RAST levels were treated with specific insect venoms. A more conventional, slow, bi-weekly schedule was used to determine whether they could be as successfully treated as those in earlier studies employing the "Rush desensitization" approach. It was also hoped these subjects would experience fewer untoward reactions.

Currently available methods for home mold surveys. II. Examples of problem homes surveyed.

Results of mold surveys in seven homes are reported. The advantages and disadvantages of the different techniques for mold evaluation are illustrated. No one sampling technique is adequate for detection of endogenous mold problems.

A retrospective survey of female sterilisation for the years 1968 to 1973. Analysis of morbidity and post-sterilisation complications for 5 years.

Between 1968 and 1973, 2122 women were sterilised, 52.2% were by laparotomy, 46.3% by laparoscopy.